Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader in the Mediterranean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
136772
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Palma - Sigonella
MSN:
25
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Palma de Mallorca Airport on a combined flight to Sigonella NAS with a second USN Grumman C-1A Trader registered 136772. While in cruising altitude some 150 miles east of the Balearic Islands, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances and crashed in the Mediterranean Sea. Some debris were found floating on water but no trace of the seven crew members (four in 136753 and three on board 136772) was found.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Grumman C-1A Trader in the Mediterranean Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
136753
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Palma - Sigonella
MSN:
06
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Palma de Mallorca Airport on a combined flight to Sigonella NAS with a second USN Grumman C-1A Trader registered 136772. While in cruising altitude some 150 miles east of the Balearic Islands, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances and crashed in the Mediterranean Sea. Some debris were found floating on water but no trace of the seven crew members (four in 136753 and three on board 136772) was found.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Learjet 25B in the Atlantic Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-CDPD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vienna - Hamburg
MSN:
25-177
YOM:
1974
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Vienna-Schwechat Airport on a training flight to Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel, West Germany. After 40 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 39,000 feet, radio contact was lost with the crew who failed to respond to any ATC calls. The aircraft failed to descend to Hamburg and continued over the Atlantic Ocean. Decision was taken to dispatch a fighter plane and the military crew confirmed that there was no activity and no movement on board once he reached the flying Learjet. After fuel exhausted, both engines stopped and the airplane entered a dive until it crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, about 560 km northwest off Scotland. Few debris were found while the main wreckage disappeared in the sea. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the accident was the consequence of an unexpected cabin depressurization was not ruled out, maybe following the failure of a seal or a protection valve.

Crash of a Cessna 402C in the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1983 at 1246 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N26506
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Treasure Cay
MSN:
402C-0340
YOM:
1980
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2999
Captain / Total hours on type:
190.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2051
Circumstances:
The aircraft was ditched in the Atlantic Ocean following engine failure. The pilot estimated fuel on board during pre-flight from the electronic fuel gauges. The aircraft flew two hours and 16 minutes before the engines quit in a mode of fuel exhaustion with surging prior to stopping. Post accident investigation using fuel slips revealed a fuel burn within 10 to 15 gallons of fuel exhaustion. The fuel gauges failed on the last leg of the flight and the passengers stated the pilot paid a lot of attention to these gauges. The pilot wanted to divert to Freeport but did not because the weather was below minimums. After ditching the aircraft sank in 800 feet of water. All three occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power(total) - non mechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (f) fluid,fuel - exhaustion
2. (c) fuel supply - misjudged - pilot in command
3. (f) engine instruments,fuel quantity gauge - erratic
4. (c) refueling - not possible - pilot in command
5. (c) fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate - pilot in command
6. (c) procedures/directives - improper - pilot in command
7. (c) preflight planning/preparation - inadequate - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: ditching
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1982 at 0228 LT
Registration:
N74957
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oakland - Honolulu
MSN:
31-7305106
YOM:
1973
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5093
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Oakland, CA at 1733 PST on a night flight to Honolulu, HI. The flight proceeded without incident until approximately 0050 PST when the pilot advised that the left engine was slowly losing oil pressure. At that time, the aircraft was at an altitude of 6,000 feet. At 0205, the pilot reported he shut down the engine and was unable to maintain 6000 feet. A descent was started. In his last transmission at 0228 PST, the pilot reported that he was at 500 feet, barely maintaining altitude. Radio contact was lost when the aircraft was approximately 500 miles east of Honolulu. At 1559, the crew of a search aircraft sighted floating debris and one body floating in that area. A marker buoy was deployed, but no recovery was accomplish. The aircraft was presumed to have been destroyed and both occupants were presumed to have been fatally injured. The aircraft crashed in moderate sea conditions with waves heights estimated at three to five feet.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power
Phase of operation: cruise
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined
2. (f) fluid,oil - pressure too low
3. Propeller feathering - intentional - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: ditching
Phase of operation: landing
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
4. (f) light condition - night
5. (f) terrain condition - water,rough
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in the Caribbean Sea: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1982 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N777AA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
The Valley - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
31-668
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
6500
Aircraft flight hours:
4665
Circumstances:
The flight departed Anguilla at 0803 ast. At 0805 the pilot radioed St. Maarten and filed a VFR flight plan to St. Thomas. The flight plan showed a direct route of flight at 4,500 feet msl with a time enroute of 45 minutes. The flight failed to arrive at the destination. Search efforts were suspended on October 23 with negative results. Pilots flying in the area on the accident date reported that at 0920 there was a line of thunderstorms extending northwest from St. Maarten to the Antigua area. The line of thunderstorms had a base as low as 1,000 feet with continuous heavy rain below. The aircraft damage and injuries are presumed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: missing aircraft
Phase of operation: unknown
Findings
1. (c) reason for occurrence undetermined
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in the Atlantic Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1982 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1003
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Madrid - Lajes - Hamilton - Bogotá
MSN:
3572
YOM:
1960
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a flight from Madrid to Bogotá with intermediate stops in Lajes (Azores Islands) and Hamilton, Bermuda. En route from Lajes to Hamilton, the navigation system failed and the crew became lost and disoriented. While cruising in strong head winds (up to 55 knots), the aircraft ran out of fuel and the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft about 330 km east of Cape May, New Jersey. The airplane remained afloat for about 56 hours before it sank and was lost. Eight occupants were rescued and evacuated while five others were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the navigation system in flight for unknown reasons. The crew got lost and disoriented and a forced landing was necessary after the airplane ran out of fuel due to an excessive fuel consumption caused by strong head winds (up to 55 knots)

Crash of a Grumman S-2A Tracker in the Japan Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
149866
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
141
YOM:
1957
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was engaged in a joint exercise with the US Navy over the Japan Sea when it crashed in unknown circumstances. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 near the North Pole

Date & Time: May 9, 1982
Operator:
Registration:
C-GKBO
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
547
YOM:
1977
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on an icy area located near the North Pole, one of the ski went through the ice and the airplane came to rest. All nine occupants, among them seven tourists, evacuated the cabin safely. The aircraft later sank and was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in the Mediterranean Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1981
Registration:
F-BJBY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oran - Toulouse
MSN:
7390
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Radar and radio contacts were lost while the aircraft was flying over the Mediterranean Sea on a flight from Oran to Toulouse. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned six days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four occupants was found. It is believed that the aircraft crashed into the sea south of Balearic Islands.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.